Giant 1/4 Scale C-47

[Mid7night]

I've shared a lot of this on social media - and I've felt bad for not being on the forums in a while - so especially now that it's flown I want to make sure there's a place here on the FT Forums where I can engage, answer questions, and connect with everyone who isn't on the "other" places.

So let's kick it off, here's the maiden flight!

Here are the stats:

Wingspan: 24ft (1/4 scale of the real C-47/DC-3)
Length: 16ft
Flying Weight: 92lbs
Wing Loading: 22 oz/sq-ft
Cube Loading: 2.75
Speed: SLOOOOOW (for it's size)

Power: Twin electric high-power motors
Props: Xoar PJWWII-R3 3-Blade 30x12
Battery: Two 6S 6000mAh in series per motor (12S voltage)
ESC: Jeti 300A
Receivers: FOUR FrSky X8R on two FrSky RB-10 Redundancy Buses, segregated between wing and tail controls
Servo/Rx Power: 12 Tattu 2S 2200mAh in distributed/parallel plugs
Materials: Foamboard, styro-insulation foam sheet, carbon fiber tubes, plywood, 3D printed PETG, strapping tape, hot glue, Gorilla Glue and epoxy.


Taxi test:

There are a ton more videos on my channel, you can see them all in this playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-iCijBhaPzAUnmSJQQht1I4rJLL4WdCt


HUGE thanks to all my partners and sponsors, and especially my awesome wife! I couldn't have done this alone!

https://windcatcherrc.com/
https://alofthobbies.com/
https://www.xoarintl.com/rc-propellers/
And of course, Flite Test.

 

[WillL84]

That's so awesome

 

[Ligbaer]

I've shared a lot of this on social media - and I've felt bad for not being on the forums in a while - so especially now that it's flown I want to make sure there's a place here on the FT Forums where I can engage, answer questions, and connect with everyone who isn't on the "other" places.

So let's kick it off, here's the maiden flight!

Here are the stats:

Wingspan: 24ft (1/4 scale of the real C-47/DC-3)
Length: 16ft
Flying Weight: 92lbs
Wing Loading: 22 oz/sq-ft
Cube Loading: 2.75
Speed: SLOOOOOW (for it's size)

Power: Twin electric high-power motors
Props: Xoar PJWWII-R3 3-Blade 30x12
Battery: Two 6S 6000mAh in series per motor (12S voltage)
ESC: Jeti 300A
Receivers: FOUR FrSky X8R on two FrSky RB-10 Redundancy Buses, segregated between wing and tail controls
Servo/Rx Power: 12 Tattu 2S 2200mAh in distributed/parallel plugs
Materials: Foamboard, styro-insulation foam sheet, carbon fiber tubes, plywood, 3D printed PETG, strapping tape, hot glue, Gorilla Glue and epoxy.


Taxi test:

There are a ton more videos on my channel, you can see them all in this playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-iCijBhaPzAUnmSJQQht1I4rJLL4WdCt


HUGE thanks to all my partners and sponsors, and especially my awesome wife! I couldn't have done this alone!

https://windcatcherrc.com/
https://alofthobbies.com/
https://www.xoarintl.com/rc-propellers/
And of course, Flite Test.

i was gonna make a funny joke about when the kit or plans were gonna come out but decided not too. Nice job on the maiden

 

[Ratcheeroo]

I've shared a lot of this on social media - and I've felt bad for not being on the forums in a while - so especially now that it's flown I want to make sure there's a place here on the FT Forums where I can engage, answer questions, and connect with everyone who isn't on the "other" places.

So let's kick it off, here's the maiden flight!

Here are the stats:

Wingspan: 24ft (1/4 scale of the real C-47/DC-3)
Length: 16ft
Flying Weight: 92lbs
Wing Loading: 22 oz/sq-ft
Cube Loading: 2.75
Speed: SLOOOOOW (for it's size)

Power: Twin electric high-power motors
Props: Xoar PJWWII-R3 3-Blade 30x12
Battery: Two 6S 6000mAh in series per motor (12S voltage)
ESC: Jeti 300A
Receivers: FOUR FrSky X8R on two FrSky RB-10 Redundancy Buses, segregated between wing and tail controls
Servo/Rx Power: 12 Tattu 2S 2200mAh in distributed/parallel plugs
Materials: Foamboard, styro-insulation foam sheet, carbon fiber tubes, plywood, 3D printed PETG, strapping tape, hot glue, Gorilla Glue and epoxy.


Taxi test:

There are a ton more videos on my channel, you can see them all in this playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-iCijBhaPzAUnmSJQQht1I4rJLL4WdCt


HUGE thanks to all my partners and sponsors, and especially my awesome wife! I couldn't have done this alone!

https://windcatcherrc.com/
https://alofthobbies.com/
https://www.xoarintl.com/rc-propellers/
And of course, Flite Test.

And you store this where? Awesome job my friend, always pushing the limits

 

[BoredGuy]

I've shared a lot of this on social media - and I've felt bad for not being on the forums in a while - so especially now that it's flown I want to make sure there's a place here on the FT Forums where I can engage, answer questions, and connect with everyone who isn't on the "other" places.

So let's kick it off, here's the maiden flight!

Here are the stats:

Wingspan: 24ft (1/4 scale of the real C-47/DC-3)
Length: 16ft
Flying Weight: 92lbs
Wing Loading: 22 oz/sq-ft
Cube Loading: 2.75
Speed: SLOOOOOW (for it's size)

Power: Twin electric high-power motors
Props: Xoar PJWWII-R3 3-Blade 30x12
Battery: Two 6S 6000mAh in series per motor (12S voltage)
ESC: Jeti 300A
Receivers: FOUR FrSky X8R on two FrSky RB-10 Redundancy Buses, segregated between wing and tail controls
Servo/Rx Power: 12 Tattu 2S 2200mAh in distributed/parallel plugs
Materials: Foamboard, styro-insulation foam sheet, carbon fiber tubes, plywood, 3D printed PETG, strapping tape, hot glue, Gorilla Glue and epoxy.


Taxi test:

There are a ton more videos on my channel, you can see them all in this playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-iCijBhaPzAUnmSJQQht1I4rJLL4WdCt


HUGE thanks to all my partners and sponsors, and especially my awesome wife! I couldn't have done this alone!

https://windcatcherrc.com/
https://alofthobbies.com/
https://www.xoarintl.com/rc-propellers/
And of course, Flite Test.

It appears flitetest’s giant B-17 has been outdone
The gauntlet has been thrown…
Also holy crap that is HUGE

 

[Crash Test RC]

I've shared a lot of this on social media - and I've felt bad for not being on the forums in a while - so especially now that it's flown I want to make sure there's a place here on the FT Forums where I can engage, answer questions, and connect with everyone who isn't on the "other" places.

So let's kick it off, here's the maiden flight!

Here are the stats:

Wingspan: 24ft (1/4 scale of the real C-47/DC-3)
Length: 16ft
Flying Weight: 92lbs
Wing Loading: 22 oz/sq-ft
Cube Loading: 2.75
Speed: SLOOOOOW (for it's size)

Power: Twin electric high-power motors
Props: Xoar PJWWII-R3 3-Blade 30x12
Battery: Two 6S 6000mAh in series per motor (12S voltage)
ESC: Jeti 300A
Receivers: FOUR FrSky X8R on two FrSky RB-10 Redundancy Buses, segregated between wing and tail controls
Servo/Rx Power: 12 Tattu 2S 2200mAh in distributed/parallel plugs
Materials: Foamboard, styro-insulation foam sheet, carbon fiber tubes, plywood, 3D printed PETG, strapping tape, hot glue, Gorilla Glue and epoxy.


Taxi test:

There are a ton more videos on my channel, you can see them all in this playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-iCijBhaPzAUnmSJQQht1I4rJLL4WdCt


HUGE thanks to all my partners and sponsors, and especially my awesome wife! I couldn't have done this alone!

https://windcatcherrc.com/
https://alofthobbies.com/
https://www.xoarintl.com/rc-propellers/
And of course, Flite Test.

That is giant!

 

[Michael9865]

Congratulations!

 

[Pieliker96]

Go Ben!

 

[cyclone3350]

I remember watching a video where U were talking about the cubic wing loading. All I kept thing was, that if U R right, it should be the most scale looking flight of that size R/C. Well, it looks like U where right. .X10-10th

 

[The Fopster]

Brilliant. Just brilliant. Big round of applause from the UK!

 

[SSgt Duramax]

The way that thing just lumbers through the air is pure awesomeness.

Im down for giving some toddlers airborne hay rides in it.

 

[Bo123]

Who was flying it? I didn't see anyone in the cockpit!

Amazing plane, can't wait to see more of it!

 

[newguy2012]

That was amazing! I have been following this and wondered when she would fly. Great job! Now drop cabbage patch paratroopers lol!

 

[Flightspeed]

Noice!

 

[Baron VonHelton]

A picture perfect take off & landing. Now if I can do the same for MY aircraft.......

 

[willsonman]

And you store this where? Awesome job my friend, always pushing the limits

He's got his own "hangar"/workshop on his property. Trust me when I tell you that there's planning in every aspect of this build. You don't just simply wake up and build something like this. Partners are also a nice thing to have on a build of this scale. There is a LOT of energy in this model and being able to have partners to store, transfer, and use that energy is a tremendous blessing.

Bravo Ben! While I will NEVER build something this big, I appreciate the challenges you've had to sojourn through to reach this milestone.

 

[Bo123]

You don't just simply wake up and build something like this.

Lets not talk about the time where I started building a 3m c-47 wing out of depron.

 

[FoamyDM]

Congratulations Ben! Now I have to go back and watch the build updates I missed.

did you talk much about the FAA Weight Waiver process? (as it's over 55lbs)

 

[Mid7night]

Congratulations Ben! Now I have to go back and watch the build updates I missed.

did you talk much about the FAA Weight Waiver process? (as it's over 55lbs)

I talked about it a few videos back, when I actually started getting "real" weights to update my estimates. I planned to work through it, but for the maiden it was a non-issue because I flew at a private - non AMA - field. It's also not an issue for flying at Flite Fest, since that is also not an AMA event, but operates under the FTCA guidelines.

 

[Intashu]

Receivers: FOUR FrSky X8R on two FrSky RB-10 Redundancy Buses, segregated between wing and tail controls
Servo/Rx Power: 12 Tattu 2S 2200mAh in distributed/parallel plugs

Out of curiosity, why go with FOUR receivers, were you that worried about interference or signal issues I assume you set two in the tail and two in the wing.. was this to avoid needing really long signal wire runs between sections?

and why TWELVE 2s 2200mah batteries? you got 4 large packs for the motors, and 3x as much for everything else! haha. I can imagine the servo's need plenty of juice, but after a flight how much power was still in your 12 battery packs? I know the weight of these won't be huge to a 90+ pound plane... but that seems like a lot!

I am really curious what kind of insanity the wiring inside this bird must look like. It looked FANTASTIC. and given the information I can only assume great pains were taken to have redundancies and ensure nothing can go wrong that can be prevented. It really does Float in the air for it's size!